By Christine Cheng, R.Ph. and Fred Cheng, R.Ph.
Taking a moment to take care of yourself is always important, but with the hectic times associated with holidays just around the corner in a year that has thrown most of our expectations out the window, now is a really good time to make sure you’re doing ok! Go for a walk…check in with the friends …read a chapter in that book you’ve been meaning to read… give yourself a little pampering at home. Whether you’re a man or a woman, most will agree that when the face staring back at you in the mirror looks nicer, you feel better.
If you only have a few minutes to spoil yourself, then consider using an exfoliant. A local company called Viva Health Products has developed an amazing exfoliating product called AMAZE GEL. All of the ingredients are derived from natural sources and it is non-abrasive. Friction from simply rubbing the gel between the fingers and skin activates the gel, which works by breaking the protein bonds of dead skin. Because it is in a gel format, the ingredients cannot penetrate too deep and therefore only remove the outermost layers of dead skin and do not impact the new skin forming beneath. Use this first thing in the morning prior to your usual facial cleanser and moisturizer. You will see a glow to your skin and it will feel much softer.
Although results take a little longer, using TOPICAL VITAMIN C can reduce pigmentation in the skin and stimulate collagen synthesis. We are big fans of Viva Health Products’ BIO BRIGHTENING C for those those who can tolerate or need an oilier product and DiMorelli’s VITAMIN C SERUM, which is water-based. The latter also includes an ingredient called Matrixyl®, a peptide that can stimulate the synthesis of collagen, which increases the serum’s ability to improve firmness in the skin.
We’re big proponents of building healthy skin from the inside out. Stay well-hydrated with water (ideally). Taking supplements that contain COLLAGEN have been proven to reduce the look of wrinkles and improve the firmness of the skin in as little as a month. Collagen supplements have the added benefit of improving the health of other connective tissues so if you supplement with collagen for your skin, you may notice an improvement in overall joint mobility and health. Other vitamins and minerals such as VITAMIN C and SILICA can help with improving the smoothness, clarity, and firmness of the skin.
Come chat with one of our friendly staff at our Pharmasaves in Cloverdale and Steveston Village about how you can integrate a little skin care into your self-care regimen.
Christine and Fred Cheng are a passionate, charismatic sister-brother pharmacist team at their unique, family-operated Pharmasave stores in Cloverdale and Steveston, B.C. They specialize in natural remedies and compounding for both human and veterinarian use. Everything mentioned in their article is available InStore.
Articles, Q&A, blog posts and all materials submitted for publishing is the intellectual property of Cloverdale Pharmacy Ltd – reproduction in part or whole, in print or online, without written consent and permission is prohibited.
